Scientist in climate change 'cover-up' steps down

The director of a research unit at the centre of a row over climate change data today said he would stand down from the post while an independent review took place.

Sceptics claim the emails show climate change data was being manipulated.

Professor Phil Jones, director of the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit (CRU), has said he 'absolutely' stands by the science produced by the centre - and that suggestions of a conspiracy to alter evidence to support a theory of man-made global warming were 'complete rubbish'.

Professor Phil Jones has received support from climate change economist Lord Stern, who labelled those sceptical about the existence of global warming 'muddled and unscientific'

He said today he would stand aside as director until the completion of the independent review, which is being conducted in the wake of the allegations by climate 'sceptics'.

The material was taken from servers at the world-renowned research centre before it was published on websites run by climate change sceptics, possibly in a bid to undermine the global climate summit starting next week in Copenhagen.

Earlier today leading climate change economist Lord Stern, responding to the events at CRU, labelled the views of those who are sceptical about the existence of man-made global warming as 'muddled and unscientific'.

Lord Stern said evidence of climate change was 'overwhelming'.

Prof Jones said: 'What is most important is that CRU continues its world-leading research with as little interruption and diversion as possible.

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'After a good deal of consideration I have decided that the best way to achieve this is by stepping aside from the director's role during the course of the independent review and am grateful to the University for agreeing to this. The Review process will have my full support.'

Professor Peter Liss will become acting director while the review is conducted, the university said.

'It is an important step to ensure that CRU can continue to operate normally and the independent review can conduct its work into the allegations.'

While Lord Stern, speaking at the launch of reports calling for an ambitious deal to tackle climate change in Copenhagen, said it was important for all views to be heard, the degree of scepticism among 'real scientists' was very small.

Climate science had a strong basis stretching back 200 years, while evidence for global warming came from a number of different sources including ice cores which went back as far as 800,000 years into the past, he said.

'This is evidence that is overwhelming, from all sources, that's the kind of climate science we're talking about,' he said.

'I think it is very important that those with any kind of views on the science or economics have their say - that does not mean that unscientific muddle also has the right to be recognised as searing insight.'

He added: 'If they are muddled and confused, they do not have the right to be described as anything other than muddled and confused.'